P-Labs and why you should care

p-Labs Are Only In 'bad' areas of town - aren't they?

​I think that’s what the residents of the up-market Chews Lane apartments in central Wellington thought too...P-Labs are no longer limited to lower socio-economic areas – they are cropping up all over the region and across the country.
“P” (or meth/methamphetamine) is relatively simple to manufacture, which has resulted in ‘labs’ appearing all over town. They can be set up temporarily, and quite cheaply, which makes their discovery very tricky. 

Should you care if the property was a P-Lab?

​The short answer to that is definitely yes.
The contamination to the home, where these drugs are manufactured, can be extensive and pervasive. The meth will stain and layer ceilings, walls and all surfaces in the house. It will penetrate deep into the walls, and will even get into insulation and framing of the house.​Families, who move into a home where a clan lab has previously been manufacturing “P”, can suffer from all sorts of illnesses. 

Exposure to meth vapours or direct contact to the skin can result in:
Burning skin; stinging eyes; headaches; nausea; fatigue; respiratory issues; hair loss; kidney failure – to name a few!
If a “P” lab has been in place even for a few weeks that can be sufficient time to damage your property.
The cost of cleanup (or in some cases demolition) of the house can be very high, although some insurance companies will cover this loss. The process can take weeks or months, which can be a disaster if it is a rental property or if you have just purchased the property as your new/first home.
Loss of income insurance for landlords is therefore a must. Property owners looking to sell a rental would be advised to test for meth contamination before they list the house on the market to avoid any unexpected news. You do not want to discover that your recently listed property is contaminated as that will greatly reduce the sale price.
Even the smoking of crystal meth or meth powder mixed with other drugs can contaminate a house over time to the point that a home is uninhabitable.e to edit.

What Should You Look For?

​If you own a rental property then ensure you make sure you conduct regular property inspections or get your property manager to send you reports following their inspections.
 Keep an eye out for the tell-tale signs such as empty chemical containers, stained floors/walls or soil/concrete. Dying trees and shrubs may also be a sign.
Labs are often hidden in the ceiling/shed/basement so be thorough when conducting a house inspection. Look for extra air vents or extractor fans, new security systems and investigate unusual chemical smells like ammonia.

What To Do Next

​If you think your property may have been used as a lab, or you are just not sure then get in the professionals. Testing is the only way to know for sure, and this needs to be done by trained/qualified experts. Do not attempt to clean up a ‘P-lab’ yourself as you will expose yourself to harmful contaminants – plus you will be wasting your time as ‘cleaning’ only hides the issue very temporarily.
Cleaning up a meth lab begins with comprehensive testing by approved and certified site investigators. Primary areas are the meth “cooking” area and meth-by-product disposal areas where walls, floors, ceilings, all electrical appliances and fittings, sinks, baths, toilets, extractor fans and ventilation systems will be heavily affected and may require partial demolition or substantial deconstruction before chemical decontamination of the remaining structure. Less affected areas of contamination further away may require less invasive remediation programmes.
A properly equipped and trained hazardous material company must do the cleanup of a meth lab. Do not attempt this yourself. There are numerous horror stories from those whose health and safety has been seriously compromised. When completed, tests to ensure that the home is safe for future residents are performed. If the tests are not below Ministry of 
Health guidelines, then further decontamination work is conducted until the tests all pass. 
Only then should tradespersons be admitted into the newly “safe” house to begin the jobs of rebuilding, rewiring, refitting and redecorating and commercially cleaning the home.

What’s the Cost?

​Testing may be around $300-400, but if it ensures you don’t purchase a contaminated property it is definitely money well spent. If you do have a contaminated house then the costs incurred will be dependent on the severity, which can vary considerably. If you need to replace walls, ceilings, wiring etc then clearly this can be a very expensive exercise.
Check with your insurance company if they will provide cover for the repairs. Ideally test first though before you buy.

Who To Contact

There are numerous companies that can assist should you have any concerns about your current/prospective property. For a Wellington based property you may want to contact:
https://www.ptestingservices.co.nz/meth-testing-wellington
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